Musings: Thoughts on This and That

Got an email from the “Babes” calling for “all hands on deck” this Friday at Hilo Circuit Court, where a hearing is set on a request for an injunction against the new Hawaii Island GMO ban.

And I thought, yeah, judges are always swayed by a rally outside the courthouse. Be sure to wear your matching shirts.

The complaint for declaratory relief was filed by Margery Bronster on behalf of “John Doe,” an unnamed papaya farmer. (She's also one of the attorneys suing Kauai County over our new GMO/pesticide regulatory law.) Though Big Island farmers aren't banned from growing papayas genetically engineered to resist the ringspot virus, they must register their crops and provide other proprietary production info by today, or face a $1,000 daily fine. The reports would be publicly disclosed.

The complaint alleges the registration/disclosure is “burdensome and intrusive,” conflicts with state and federal law and exposes the farmer to “irreparable harm from vandalism, intimidation, and misappropriation of his trade secrets.” It claims “John Doe” already has been “the victim of intimidation and threatening behavior by anti-GE crop activists” and details the “extremism and criminality” of activists in Hawaii County, where thousands of GE papaya trees were destroyed in Kapoho. 

The complaint seeks to invalidate the law's registration provision, while another motion requests a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction staying the March 5 registration deadline.

Heard defeated Prosecutor Shaylene Iseri on TV vowing to file a complaint with the Office of Information Practices because the county attorney was allegedly withholding information.

And I thought back on how she had repeatedly flat out refused, as prosecutor, to honor OIP directives ordering her to release public documents to me.

Then I read a “fuel-gate” denial from Shay in Andy Parx's blog:

I never pursued charges against [former county transportation director] Janine Rapozo. The Grand Jury returned an indictment. The Grand a Jury has its own Grand Jury counsel appointed by the court. They are prohibited from consulting with the prosecutor or deputy.

And I thought, mmm, yeah, but it's the prosecutor who decides what goes to the grand jury. We're still getting Shay's version of "truth," as opposed to The Truth.

Got some photos of the sandbags in front of “green” Realtor Neal Norman's richy-rich house in Haena, which were exposed by the recent big surf. Some empty sandbags washed out into the ocean, and the green ties are creating a tripping hazard for beach walkers.

And I thought, gee, these were put in under an emergency temporary permit for one-year's use — way back in 1997.

Saw this Facebook comment about the proposed dairy at Mahaulepu:

The prevailing winds were my first concern when I heard what and where this was proposed, Don't know as it would be very pleasent [sic] out there playing Poipu Bay Golf Course when the trades are blowing.

And I thought, wow, I can remember when folks opposed that golf course because they were disturbed about taking land out of agriculture for resort uses. Now they're protesting agriculture because it might impact the golf course, which of course uses fertilizers, pesticides and water, all of which drain into the sea.

Heard folks complain about the possible future runoff from the dairy, which may be a concern.

And I thought, so where is the outcry over the shishi and doodoo that we know is going into Hanalei Bay from the all “sleeps-12-to-14” oceanfront vacation rentals still using cesspools? (Click on the map to see the legend. Dark green with cross-hatching are cesspool TVRs.)

Not to mention the even more pristine waters between Wainiha and Haena.